Stethoscope

ABSTRACT

A rigid cup-like member has an opening therethrough for receiving an end of a sound delivery tube of a stethoscope. A deformable member extends around the cup-like member adjacent the periphery thereof and is adapted to engage and conform to the shape of the head surrounding the ear of a user so that the cuplike member together with the deformable member encases the ear of a user. The ear piece is adjustable relative to the sound delivery tube and a sound absorbing material is positioned between the cup-like member and the ear piece.

[ Sept. 24, 1974 Primary Examiner-Stephen Tomsky Attorney, Agent, or Firm.lennings, Carter &

Thompson [57] ABSTRACT A rigid cup-like member has an opening therethrough for receiving an end of a sound delivery tube of a stethoscope. A deformable member extends around the cup-like member adjacent the periphery thereof and is adapted to engage and conform to the shape of the head surrounding the ear of a user so that the cu like member together with the deformable member encases the ear of a user. The ear piece is adjustable relative to the sound delivery tube and a sound ab- 327 E. 10th 181/24 A6lb 7/02 181/24, 23

United States Patent Reynolds, Jr.

[ STETHOSCOPE 51 1m. [58] Field of Search.,...;..........................

sorbing material is positioned between the cup-like member and the ear piece.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Port......i............

Touger et al. 969 Mendelson et al Bauer et al.

STETHOSCOPE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates to a stethoscope and more particularly to a stethoscope which is not affected by extraneous noises.

As is well known in the art to which my invention relates, faint heart sounds are not always clearly. discernible to doctors using conventional stethoscopes due to the presence of extraneous noises, such. as noises which are transferred through theflear as wellas noises which are transferred through bone structure.

BRIEF-SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Apparatus embodying features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, in which:

' FIG. 1 is a front elevational view,.partly broken away showing one form of my invention;

' FIG. 2is an enlarged, fragmental .view taken generallyalongthe line 2-2 of FIG. I; v

FIG. 3 is'a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;and,

- FIG. 4 is a fragmental view, .partly broken away, showing a modified form of stethoscope in which the chest piece is connected to apair of sound delivery tubes. I

' Referring now to the drawing for a better understanding of my invention, ;I show in FIG. 1 a stethoscope having a sounddelivery tube which is connected at oneend to a'chest piece 11. The other end of the sound delivery tube 10'is connected to a pairof cup-like members 12 by branchtubes 13. That is, the branch tubes 13 are connected to the-main sound delivery tube '10 by a T-fitting-IS. The ends of the branch tubes 13 are connected to rigid, L-shaped tubes 14 vided-with a threaded opening 21 for receiving an elongatedthreaded portion 22 of an earpiece 23. The ear piece 23 is provided with .a rounded inner end and is provided with a passageway 24 therethrough for transmitting sound to the ear. By providing the threaded connection between the ear piece 23 and the sleevelike member 17, the ear piece is adapted for axial movement relative to the tube 14 and the sleeve-like member 17 whereby it may be moved toward and away from the ear of a user.

A deformable member 26 extends all the way around the cup-like member 12 adjacent the periphery thereof, as shown. The deformable member 26 is adapted to engage and conform to the shape of the head surrounding the ear of a user whereby the deformable member and the cup-like member together encase the ear with the ear piece 23 extending inwardly of the ear. The deformable member 26 may be formed of any suitable material, such as foam rubber.

As shown in FIG. 3, a plate-like member 27 extends across the open end of the cup-like member 12 between the ear piece and the cup-like member and defines a cavity therebetween for receiving a sound absorbing material 28 which may be in the form of sponge rubber or the like.

As shown in FIG. 1, the branch tubes 13 are carried by a generally U-shaped supporting structure 29 which is connected by upstanding support members 3'1'to a resilient support 32 which surrounds the horizontal portion of each L-shaped tube 14. Suitable recesses 33 are provided in the members 32 for receiving the suppor lnmbsriih Referring now toFTGji of the tifviri yisiibw a slightly modified form of my invention in which a chest piece 1 la is connected to a pair of sound delivery tubes 10a. The other end of each sound delivery tube 10a is connected to a rigid, L-shaped tube 14, as described hereinabove, whichis connected to the cup-like member 12 and the ear piece 23. Accordingly, the stethoscope shown in FIG. 4 operates in the identical manner to the stethoscope shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, the only difference being that two separate sound delivery tubes 10a are employed rather than employing a single sound delivery tube 10 which in turn is connected to the branch tubes 13 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 3. In view of the fact that there are many types of such chest pieces and sound delivery tubes which may be employed in association with myinvention, no further description of the chest piece or the sound delivery tube is deemed necessary.

From the foregoing descriptiomthe operation of my improved stethoscope will be readily understood. The cup-like members 12 are positioned over the ears of the user whereby the deformable members 26 encircle the ear to thus encase the ear with the ear piece 23 extending inwardly of the ear. The ear piece 23 is adjusted to the desired position relative tothe ear of a user by merely rotating the ear piece. The threaded connection 21-22 thus holds the ear piece 23 in any selected position.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that Ihave devised an improved stethoscope which eliminates extraneous noises. By providing a cup-like member which, together with the deformable member 26, completely encases the ear, I not only eliminate the transfer of extraneous noises through the ear but also eliminate the transfer of such noises through the bone structure adjacent the ear. Also, by providing meansfor adjusting the position of the ear piece 23 relative to the :ear of the user, the ear piece may be moved to any desired position to form an effective seal between the ear piece'and the ear. Furthermore, by providing the sound absorbing material 28 between the ear piece 23 and the cup-like member, together with the sound absorbing material in the peripheral member 26, I further reduce the transfer of noises to the ear and the area adajcent thereto.

While I have shown my invention in but two forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.

What I claim is:

1. In a stethoscope having a chest piece connected to one end of at least one sound delivery tube with at least one ear piece for the other end of said sound delivery tube,

a a rigid cup-like member for each ear piece;

b there being an opening through each cup-like memher for receiving said other end of said sound delivery tube, c a sleeve-like member connected at one end to said other end of said sound "delivery tube and threadedly connected at its other end to said ear piece so that said ear piece is adapted for axial movement relative to said sleeve-like member to selected positions relative to the ear of a user, and

d. a deformable member extending around said cupsound absorbing material is positioned between the inner surface of said cup-like member and said ear piece and a plate-like member extends between said ear piece and said cup-like member and forms a cavity for said sound absorbing material. 

1. In a stethoscope having a chest piece connected to one end of at least one sound delivery tube with at least one ear piece for the other end of said sound delivery tube, a a rigid cup-like member for each ear piece; b there being an opening through each cup-like member for receiving said other end of said sound delivery tube, c a sleeve-like member connected at one end to said other end of said sound delivery tube and threadedly connected at its other end to said ear piece so that said ear piece is adapted for axial movement relative to said sleeve-like member to selected positions relative to the ear of a user, and d. a deformable member extending around said cup-like member adjacent the periphery thereof and adapted to engage and conform to the shape of the head surrounding the ear of a user so that said deformable member and said cup-like member together encase said ear with said ear piece engaging said ear.
 2. A stethoscope as defined in claim 1 in which a sound absorbing material is positioned between the inner surface of said cup-like member and said ear piece and a plate-like member extends between said ear piece and said cup-like member and forms a cavity for said sound absorbing material. 